Law Enforcement messages can follow evidence based guidance too. Here's proof.

Initial shelter in place order.

When Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were fatally shot in their home on June 14, 2025, it launched a statewide manhunt that began in a residential neighborhood. The Brooklyn Park Police used the WEA system to issue shelter in place messages that were were clear and actionable for populations that were facing a potential threat as the gunman was on the loose and unpredictable. With limited information available, they quickly issued a WEA to communicate the gravity of the situation while also including local details to increase risk personalization.

The first message included the source, hazard, location, description of the the suspect and very clear instructions on how to protect oneself: "Do not approach and do not answer door unless two officers approach together. Call 911 to verify officer identity first." Because the suspect appears to have impersonated a law enforcement officer when gaining entry to the Hortman's home; we learned these details in the second WEA that followed.

Second shelter in place order.

The second message maintained much of the same content as the first, but provided a more detailed description of the clothing worn by the suspect and explained that he "may misrepresent himself as law enforcement." This additional information helped to explain why people who were sheltered in their homes should not answer their door to law enforcement officers during the manhunt. This detailed information explaining the event, police activity, and description of the suspect would provide considerable explanation to interpret the frenzy of activity in the community and details that were emerging about the event.

Later, a third message was issued. This time, Brooklyn PD lifted the requirements for locals to shelter in place. They provided an explanation about the status of the event, instructions on what to do during the ongoing investigation, and details about the additional personnel who would remain. This "all clear" message didn't use the language of "all clear" but provided local information that could help to relieve concerns about the ongoing danger locally and the actions that people could now take.

Post-alert message ending shelter in place.

At every stage, the Brooklyn PD communicated clearly by providing information about the threat, the location, and instructions for safety. They also communicated, via WEA, what they were doing during the search and ongoing investigation, explaining why continued law enforcement presence would be visible.

There was a lack of jargon or technical language, and WEAs were communicated in a timely manner. Importantly, when they recognized that the threat was no longer thought to be active in the alerted area, they notified residents so that they could resume "normal" daily activities rather than remaining in their homes and on high alert.

These are the kinds of messages that are, unfortunately, necessary during law enforcement incidents. The incident was severe, certain, and urgent; validating the use of the IPAWS system to reach people who were at risk. By communicating clearly, without using legal language, they demonstrated good alert and warning practices from beginning to end.

For more recommended contents, be sure to download The Warning Lexicon - it's free and offers step-by-step instructions on how to write a better warning message.

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